Feb 18-25 Bella Coola Heli Sports (Picture Heavy)

Putting this here because we burned a lot of Jet A going up hill.

My wife and I wanted a big ski trip this winter and Bella Coola Heli Sports had some last minute openings so we gathered up the savings and headed north.  An easy drive to Vancouver airport and an hour flight later we were in Bella Coola on a clearing thursday morning.

Day 1 was light clouds and a few warm up runs in medium density powder to find the ski legs with one other skier and our guide.
http://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=0B03PCg3-imGga2FUTHBkTklSNXc


Day 2 we headed up again with 3 skiers and our guide for more powder laps in terrain near the lodge.  Snow was good and we were finding our ski legs more each lap.
http://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=0B03PCg3-imGgSkh4Yl9vRFZVaHM
http://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=0B03PCg3-imGgS19SZElGZ1ljRUU

Day 3 the other group was leaving so we had a few laps with 5 skiers then lost 3 and picked up 2 in the afternoon.  We had sunny conditions and lower density snow on a variety of runs making for a great day.
http://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=0B03PCg3-imGgTDA5RTlEa2ljbDg
http://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=0B03PCg3-imGgY194SHdINS1wYVk

Day 4 the wife took a rest day and we had some cloudier skys.  With only one group in the heli we did some exploring and found a mixed bag of snow conditions depending on wind load.  Camera stayed in the bag with the flat light.

Day 5 the sun came back out and we explored a different area.  Wind pack was still the major snow variable with some slopes much fluffier than others. In the afternoon we went back to some known powder and left some tracks.
http://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=0B03PCg3-imGgSFUwRDR1NS1CNUU
http://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=0B03PCg3-imGgbjdwR3pyRi1IOHM
http://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=0B03PCg3-imGgUEpuTVdpMXZHNzQ
http://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=0B03PCg3-imGgN2NZamlnTFF5czQ
http://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=0B03PCg3-imGgMFVuYVhCSDQwaDQ

Day 6 brought more sunshine and more exploring.  We went to the far reaches of the heli terrain to find awesome views and more good snow.
http://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=0B03PCg3-imGgaGZyV1ZHWldFSUE
http://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=0B03PCg3-imGgbHRnTkhOd3MwTVU
http://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=0B03PCg3-imGgWlVudERFQUdtX0E
http://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=0B03PCg3-imGgTFZiZTNzMDZDLUE
http://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=0B03PCg3-imGgTTFrbUZVMUk4RWs

Day 7 we had tired legs but were determined to finish the week strong.  We stayed close to the lodge and skied the powder until the legs gave out.
http://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=0B03PCg3-imGgUUtNdmJlUlRBMG8
http://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=0B03PCg3-imGgM0pRd0x4dGlXLW8
http://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=0B03PCg3-imGgQzlSbU8tc3I3X1E
http://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=0B03PCg3-imGgR0VXQ0R3QkN5U2c


Day 8 was pack up and back home to Seattle, as they say leaving is the hardest part.  Everything about our trip was great: the guides, the pilot, the lodge and food were all excellent.  We were super luck with great other guests and great weather that allowed us to ski everyday and far exceed our minimum vertical allocation.  I hope to be able to afford to go again sometime, money might not buy happiness but it does buy heli time and that is basically the same thing.

Looked fantastic! How much?

Looked fantastic! How much?

If you have to ask . . .